WORKSHOPS

In the Life Atlanta ~ 2008 Atlanta Black Pride Workshop Schedule

Due to scheduling conflicts, some workshop times may change. Please check with the ITLA information desk on updates, changes, additions, and final room assignments for the Workshop schedule.

Cost: $ 5 day pass or $10 for weekend pass

SATURDAY, August 30, 2008
12:00PM - 1:15PM

Circles 2 – Speak Out Sistah Series
Butch, Femme and In-Between: What Difference Does It Make?
How do we decide which, if any, label to use to describe ourselves? Butch and Femme roles in the lesbian community are often seen as a way for one woman to be “the man” while, the other is “the woman.” While it is perceived that couples often take on traditional male and female roles in their partnerships, one would argue against the simplicity of this analysis- that gender is dualistic- especially among lesbians. We invite you to come discuss the nature of this recreation of gender among lesbians and how it has something to teach all of us.
Presenters: Noel McGee and Traci Fields

Fear? Not Here!
Join us as we explore principles to loosen the shackles of worry and apprehension and, instead, walk in the truth of who and whose we are. Laying down the weights and burdens caused by fear, you begin to live your life’s purpose and utilize the innate power you were gifted to possess. Never forgetting that Life is a Gift when Fear is not an Option!
Presenter: Bryan Edney

Onyx Presents
BDSM 101
Always one of the Workshop Series’ most popular topics, the Southeast Chapter of
Onyx will present their interactive workshop on BDSM culture and the alternative forms of sex. Open to both men and women, this workshop will include a panel discussion on
S/M and what it is to walk on the darker side of sex. There will be a Q&A period in order to answer the many questions that always arise. You must be 21 to attend. Due to the nature of the presentation, the session will not be open to latecomers.
Presenter: Onyx Southeast Chapter

ABCs and 123s of Adoption
MEGA Family Project provides support, education, and advocacy to Georgia’s LGBTQ Families. During this session, MEGA will share the information you need to know in considering adoption for your family planning.
Presenters: MEGA Family Project Volunteers

SATURDAY, August 30, 2008
1:30PM - 2:45PM

Circles 2 – Speak Out Sistah Series
Change the Way You Date, Mate & Relate
From first date to perfect mate, dating can be exciting yet intense. Whether you’re looking to find a great date, relationship, or simply get to know different people and see where it goes. We’ll discuss the tools, tips, and knowledge you need. Learn the difference between sane and scary relationships, how to pick a promising partner, and dump a disaster. The purpose of this workshop is to put forth the concepts involved in dating and relationship building.
Presenter: Claudia Moss and Tosha Mobley

CDC’s Toward A Health Community Series
Addressing the Health Needs of Gay and Bisexual Men
Come participate in the Centers for Disease Control’s brief update on the latest statistics regarding the health of gay and bisexual men followed by a facilitated discussion. A key goal of this meeting is to get community input to assist in future CDC planning efforts to address the needs of African Americans.
Presenters: TBD

Onyx Presents
BDSM 102
Always one of the Workshop Series’ most popular topics, the Southeast Chapter of
Onyx will present their interactive workshop on BDSM culture and the alternative forms of sex. Open to both men and women, this workshop will include a panel discussion on
S/M and what it is to walk on the darker side of sex. There will be a Q&A period in order to answer the many questions that always arise. You must be 21 to attend. Due to the nature of the presentation, the session will not be open to latecomers.
Presenter: Onyx Southeast Chapter

Emerging Populations with Extraordinary HIV Incidence: Research in the House and Ballroom Communities
The South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council is currently conducting quantitative and qualitative research that investigates the causality of increased HIV/AIDS and STDs in the house/ball community through social networks.  This workshop will present some preliminary findings as well as discuss, the historical and modern-day relevance of the ballroom community and its’ social impact within LGBT communities of color; and examine the interconnection of varying houses and the positive relationships that they forge “outside of ball events”.
Presenter: Damon L. Humes and Cynthia Wright

SATURDAY, August 30, 2008
3:00PM- 4:15PM

Our Community, Our Family: The Home Buying Process
Are YOU Prepared?
Buying a home in today’s market can be tricky, but there is help! This interactive session will give you the hard facts and instructions on pre-qualifying for your loan, getting an agent, deciding on where to buy, taking care of your investment after your purchase, and much more!
Presenter: Chonté Martin

CDC’s Toward A Health Community Series
Addressing the Health Needs of Lesbian and Bisexual Women
Come participate in a brief update on the latest statistics regarding the health of lesbian and bisexual women followed by a facilitated discussion. A key goal of this meeting is to get community input to assist in future CDC planning efforts to address the needs of African Americans.
Presenters: TBD

No Glove…No Love…No Excuses
Join YouthPride youth for an interactive, hands-on workshop covering everything your sex education teacher forgot to tell you about SAFE SEX.  We’ll go deeper than the birds and the bees as we teach you the right way to use condoms, dental dams, finger cots, female condoms, and sex toys.  Learn the tricks and tools of the trade to have tough conversations and keep your body SEXY and SAFE.  YouthPride’s Youth Board will present this workshop, but everyone is welcome!
Presenters: Joseph Merritt

Sex, Sexuality, and Spirituality for Communities of Color
Among people of color in faith communities, there seems to be no other topic that provokes such heated debate as homosexuality.  It is a cultural taboo that dare not speak its name. Many people say that the case of homosexuality is closed-Scripture is clear on this subject-and the Church remains unyielding on its acceptance of homosexuals.  Many more people claim the jury is still out and their belief of homosexuality and the Bible remains inconclusive. 
Presenter: Rev. Tommie Watkins

The House of Blahnik: Defining a Culture of Art, Service and Empowerment
This presentation illuminates the ongoing work of the House of Blahnik; which has, and continues to empower participants/affiliates of the house and ball community to: 1) achieve self-defined success through the first house-specific educational scholarship 2) work to eradicate HIV and reduce health disparity and 3) mobilize LGBT communities of color.  Further, this presentation will highlight the overall contributions of the house/ball community on mainstream fashion, fine/performing art and performance; while exploring common myths and misconceptions.  This will all be achieved through discussion and live demonstration.
Presenter: Robert Burns and Damon Humes

SATURDAY, August 30, 2008
4:30PM – 5:45PM

What You Don’t Know About Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer is the #2 killer of African American men.  It is a silent and painful killer. There are no symptoms or warning signs until, it is almost too late for a cure.  Yes, it is curable.  Find out how this disease is 98% curable and information about other related Prostate conditions that can affect your sexual health.
Presenter: Dr. Alan T. Simpson, Jr.

CDC’s Toward A Health Community Series
Addressing the Health Needs of Transgender Persons
Come participate in a brief update on the latest statistics regarding the health of transgender persons followed by a facilitated discussion. A key goal of this meeting is to get community input to assist in future CDC planning efforts to address the needs of African Americans.
Presenters: TBD

The 100s Present: Health Topics for Women
This comprehensive workshop will include presentations and open discussions about health topics for women. Come speak to a personal trainer, health and law professionals, and a motivational speaker and learn the tools to help heal and keep yourself healthy.
Presenter: Tangela Washington

Alpha Lambda Zeta Presents
The Impact of Homophobia and Racism on the GLBTQ Youth of Color
The purpose of this workshop is to address the impact of racism and homophobia in high schools, colleges, and media on the GLBTQ Youth of Color. The workshop will address sexual risk-taking behaviors that makes youth vulnerable to HIV, pregnancy, sexual violence, coming out or being discovered by your heterosexual family members, homelessness, and abuse.
Presenter: Rasheeda Ladd, L’Tricia Chandler, and Joyce Lewis

The Politics of Inclusion
In this Presidential Election Season, it is critical that LGBT persons of color understand the political and socio-religious dynamics that promote hetero-sexism in public policy.  It is equally important that we are enabled to counter the arguments of the Religious Right and Social Conservatives with positions that are grounded in the following:
• The Theology of Liberation – which has given biblical impetus and theological thrust to Freedom Movements throughout the centuries; and allowed Religious Progressives to reclaim the Bible from the sole control of ‘biblical literalists’.
• The Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement – which belongs just as much to black LGBT persons as it does to black hetero-sexuals via A Philip Randolf, Bayard Rustin, James Baldwin, John Lewis, Coretta Scott King et al.
• The Politics of Inclusion – which comprehends the dynamics of intersecting oppressions and the folly of ‘hierarchies of oppression’ as we move beyond an exclusive focus on Black Rights to Human Rights and beyond an exclusive focus on Gay Issues to Social Justice Issues?
• The Call To Black/Hispanic LGBT Political Activism – which is vital to the physical health and psychological wholeness of Black/Hispanic communities and vital to the Presidential prospects of Barack Obama.
Presenter: Rev. Kenneth Samuel

SUNDAY, August 31, 2008
12:00PM- 1:15PM

Warriorz & SuperSheros/Heros/Teros
Building a Beloved Community…In a Transient World! – Part I
This workshop series will present an overview of how Trans & Allied efforts that integrate intersecting allies toward community involvement, positively affect the course and development of a more resilient and loving society; among the gender-binary, queer, gay, lesbian, trans, intersex and other sub-communities. The session will emphasize the importance of being an active member of the Beloved Community, in a Transient World. The presenters will explore the gender spectrum, artful advocacy and the importance of creating safe space language, and perspective of how their own identities – and offensive “isms”- intersect others.
Presenters: Sir Jesse McNulty, Tracee McDaniel, Dr. Annleise Singh, and
Officer Darlene Harris

What You Don’t Know About Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer is the #2 killer of African American men.  It is a silent and painful killer. There are no symptoms or warning signs until, it is almost too late for a cure.  Yes, it is curable.  Find out how this disease is 98% curable and information about other related Prostate conditions that can affect your sexual health.
Presenter: Dr. Alan T. Simpson, Jr.

Financial Empowerment-Creating Wealth Out of Debt
During this workshop, attendees will learn how they can use these economic times to how to invest in real estate for retirement planning and to supplement current income. We will also focus on how attendees can tap into the power of the Internet to create second incomes.
Presenter: Kenetra Ahlaam & Wahid Shakur

Taking Our Rightful Place in the Black Church
This workshop will serve to empower LGBTQ persons of faith to assume their rightful roles within the Black Church. By examining the history of homophobia in the Black Church and deconstructing the myths associated with LGBTQ persons and Black worship, the attendees will be given concrete tools to live out their faith in the Black Church.
Presenter: Rev. W. Franc Perry

SUNDAY, August 31, 2008
1:30PM- 2:45PM

Warriorz & SuperSheros/Heros/Teros
Building a Beloved Community…In a Transient World! – Part II
Calling All Super Allies
Encourage a more beloved community for all, in a changing world; use your Super-powers to:
Collaborate, Celebrate, and Create. Super- Allies commit to celebrating intersecting identities and using their resilient energy to engage in collaborative bridge building, across sub-communities, in hopes of building a more just society, in a transient world. A panel of resilient Queer minded Allied Warriors and SuperSheros/Heros/Teros will engage the audience by sharing their activist approaches to facilitating change – toward justice for all. (Panelist will allow time for Q & A).
Presenters: Sir Jesse McNulty, Tracee McDaniel, Dr. Annleise Singh, and Officer Darlene Harris

Just Another Sad Love Song
The workshop will reflect on creative ways to use Performing Arts to get the message of HIV/AIDS Awareness into the community. In this workshop participants will have an opportunity to express their selves through some form of the arts. The first 20 minutes will be used to explain how to use the arts as an awareness tool. The next 10 minutes will allow the participant to connect their talent with the awareness plan they chose. The Last 30 minutes will be used for Role Play.
Presenter: Terrance Tindal

Spirituality and Spirit of Queer Ancestors as Necessary Synergy
This workshop is an invitation to the black and all in the LGBT community to learn African Tradition of Ancestor’s worship as possible synergy needed to keep focus in our day-to-day life journey through all kinds of clobber’s passages we pass through. The material examines impact of homophobia on our community, and individual spirit, and how our ancestors dealt with that and what we can borrow from them.
Presenter: John Ademola Adewoye

Non Profit 101
Non-Profit 101 is designed to provide individuals who aspire to have a non-profit with the basic knowledge to do so. It’s also a good refresher for those who already have a non-profit organization.  In this workshop, you will attain foundational information on drafting a mission and vision statement, formulating your board of directors, volunteer management, fundraising, and securing 501 © 3 status.
Presenter: Kerline Astre

SUNDAY, August 31, 2008
3:00PM – 4:15PM

Understanding Internalized Homophobia
Internalized homophobia in contrast to external homophobia comes from within and is targeted toward oneself. It’s a story that’s painted with many coats, layered with societal conundrums that stifle self-growth and are sexually repressive.

This facilitated discussion will attempt to foster solution-based conversation and that asks us these questions: Does a particular behavior or mannerism in you bother you? Does being lesbian/gay feel like a personal shortcoming? Is there a particular tone of voice, or behavior or look which makes you sound, er um, different?  Also, what exactly is internalized homophobia? What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity and how do these two terms connect to internalized homophobia?

This forum is about US. It’s about really defining homophobia and compelling the LGBTQ community to look into clear mirrors that reveal horrifying truths about the real “goings-ons” within the LGBTQ experience.
Presenter: Kerline Astre

In The Life Atlanta
346 Auburn Ave NE
Suite 126
Atlanta, GA 30312
678-623-0677 Fax
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Mission: ITLA serves to promote unity, pride, self-empowerment, and positive visibility within Atlanta's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community of African descent through education, advocacy, and coalition building programs.